Best Actor

‘American Horror Story’ will compete as drama at SAG, mini at Golden Globes

Confusion continues to reign over where “American Horror Story” will compete at trophy shows. While the issue of category classification seemed to be resolved at the recent Emmys when its first TV season landed in the movie/mini slots after previously competing as a drama series at the Golden Globes and SAG, its second season — “Asylum” — will compete as a drama series at the next SAG Awards and as a movie/mini at the next Globes.

“Basically, we were told by SAG that, because it was defined as a drama series last year, we have to keep it there,” FX communications chief John Solberg tells Gold Derby.

The following stars will compete in the lead categories: Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, James Cromwell. Supporting: Zachary Quinto, Lily Rabe and Evan Peters.

A little background on the confusing route this show has followed:

For its inaugural awards push last year, the FX show was entered at the Golden Globes and SAG in the drama categories. It was nodded as Best TV Drama Series at the Globes (losing to “Homeland“), and Jessica Lange won as Best TV Supporting Actress (a category that includes dramas, comedies, and movies/miniseries). At SAG, the only bid was for Lange as Best TV Drama Actress, where she prevailed yet again.

Then at the Emmys this past September, the project was entered as a miniseries. It received a nod for Best TV Movie/Miniseries plus Connie Britton in lead and Denis O’Hare, Frances Conroy, and Lange in supporting. Lange was the only winner that night.

The program has a fully resolved storyline each season, so that is how it was able to compete at the Emmys in the longform categories. The first season was about a family living in a haunted house in Los Angeles. The second season currently airing revolves around an institution for the criminally insane in 1964.

6 thoughts on “‘American Horror Story’ will compete as drama at SAG, mini at Golden Globes”

I could see the new season of American Horror Story winning awards this year. I think mini-series and drama are both appropriate because there isnâ€™t a well defined category for an anthology horror like American Horror Story. My coworker at DISH and I think Ryan Murphy and his crew have done well with the reboot, but season one was better. Iâ€™m recording the new season on my DISH Hopper so I donâ€™t miss anything. It has 2000 hours of recording time available which means I donâ€™t have to worry about how much space I have when recording my favorite shows. The new season is a great follow-up, but itâ€™s too complicated. I think they need to focus more in the coming episodes.